Oxford City’s five-game unbeaten run in Skrill North was brought to an emphatic end as they were crushed at Gainsborough Trinity on Saturday, writes MATTHEW BRUCE.

The hosts hadn’t won in eight matches, but the result was never in doubt on an afternoon in which the home side repeatedly punished a sluggish City side.

Jonathan Margetts hit a hat-trick, while Greg Young, Grant Roberts and Ciaran Toner also got their names on the scoresheet.

Gainsborough immediately established their dominance, and Margetts almost put them in front after 24 minutes, trapping Curtis Bateson’s cross before drawing a scrambled save from goalkeeper Mark Scott.

But Gainsborough weren’t to be denied for long as they broke the deadlock from the resulting corner, Young rising highest to head home.

Three minutes later Margetts netted his first of the afternoon, his spectacular 25-yard screamer leaving Scott with no chance.

Matters only got worse for City after the break, and they fell further behind after 53 minutes when Roberts broke free before slotting the ball beneath the defenceless goalkeeper.

That marked the start of a disastrous spell in which City conceded three goals in the space of four minutes.

A minute later, Margetts was on hand to tap in his second goal after the City defence failed to cut out a simple ball across the face of goal.

And man-of-the-match Margetts completed his treble shortly before the hour mark, firing home after referee Ricky Wootton had controversially waved play on despite seeing his assistant’s flag raised for offside.

Margetts was again involved in Gainsborough’s sixth goal nine minutes from time, rounding the keeper before squaring for Toner to bundle home and complete City’s misery.